For quite a time ICC Champions Trophy 2025 was on headlines, After months of uncertainty and tense negotiations, the ICC has finally reached a breakthrough on how India vs Pakistan matches will be handled in major ICC events, from 2024 to 2027. The solution? A hybrid model.
So, what exactly does this mean?
What is the Hybrid Model?
The hybrid model means that whenever India and Pakistan face each other in an ICC event , whether hosted by India or Pakistan the match will not be held in either country. Instead, the game will take place at a neutral venue.
This agreement will apply to all ICC events in the 2024-2027 cycle, including the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
For instance, India’s matches in the 2025 Champions Trophy (which will be hosted mostly by Pakistan) will be played at a neutral venue. And in return, Pakistan’s matches in any ICC event hosted by India will also be moved to a neutral location.
What Does This Mean for the Champions Trophy 2025?
The Champions Trophy 2025 is scheduled to take place in Pakistan, but due to the hybrid model, India’s games including potential knockout matches will be played at a neutral venue.
Similarly, this model will apply to the 2025 Women’s World Cup in India and the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. So, if India and Pakistan are drawn to play each other, the game will be held in Sri Lanka, a neutral venue.
The hybrid model will also extend to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by Pakistan. If India and Pakistan are drawn to play each other, the match will again be played at a neutral venue.
Choosing the Neutral Venue
So, where will these matches be played? The host country (Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025, India for the Women’s World Cup 2025) will propose the neutral venue, and the ICC will approve it. Right now, the UAE is the leading contender for the neutral venue, though Sri Lanka has also been mentioned.
For Pakistan, this means they will retain the full hosting rights for the Champions Trophy 2025 while adhering to the neutral venue model for India-Pakistan matches. The good news for Pakistan is that it can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 schedule will go ahead as planned.
Why Did It Take So Long?
The delay in finalizing the venue for the Champions Trophy 2025 was caused by the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. The BCCI made it clear that it wouldn’t send the Indian team to Pakistan without government clearance, which led to a lot of back-and-forth negotiations.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially rejected the idea of a hybrid model but eventually agreed to it after intense discussions.
The involvement of the governments of both countries made the negotiations even more complicated.
The head of the PCB, Mohsin Naqvi, is a member of Pakistan’s government, while Jay Shah, the ICC Chairman, is the son of India’s home minister. This intricate web of politics made the final decision all the more challenging.
Looking Ahead
Now that the hybrid model has been agreed upon, both the BCCI and the PCB can finally focus on what really matters: the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the cricket itself. With India and Pakistan’s games taking place at neutral venues, both boards have found a compromise that allows the tournament to move forward without too much disruption.
Fans, though, will still miss the thrill of watching their teams face off on home soil, but the matches themselves are sure to be as intense and passionate as ever. Whether in Sri Lanka or the UAE, the rivalry between India and Pakistan is always something special.
So, as the Champions Trophy 2025 looms closer, cricket fans can breathe easy knowing the tournament is finally set even if some of the biggest matches won’t be taking place in the subcontinent.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Champions Trophy 2025 schedule is confirmed! you can read more about ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Time table, Click Here
The information source of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is sourced from official ICC website.
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